LONDON SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

23th September - 6th October

We are delighted to present once more, from 23 September to 6 October, a selection of some of the most exciting recent Spanish films with a variety of genres reflecting the dynamism and creativity of Spanish cinema today. Some of these films, like Lope, Neon Flesh or Legend of the Soldier (Bruc) will later be released in the UK, but most of them will be shown exclusively at this Festival.

Always committed to bring to you some of those who have made possible these films, we are happy that many of the films will be presented by its directors or actors. Thus some of our guests include Alberto Ammann (tbc), who will open the Festival with the special preview of Lope, Paco Cabezas, who will introduce to us his latest film as a director, Neon Flesh, as well as Bon appetit which he co-wrote, Oscar Aibar will present his successful El gran Vázquez and the Galician Olvier Laxe his Cannes-awarded Todos vós sodes capitáns. Actor Francisco Boira will present Enrique Gabriel's Vidas pequeñas as well as his directorial debut: the short Nubes.

As in previous years, there will be a Catalan Window with a selection of some films that will allow us a glimpse into the cinema from Catalonia, including Ramon Térmens' Catalunya Uber Alles! and Legend of the Soldier, in Catalonia known as Bruc, the name of the Catalan legendary drummer boy. Barcelona filmmaker Ventura Pons will also join us to present his latest work, Mil cretins, and Nora Navas will introduce to us Agustí Villaronga's multi-Goya-awarded Pà negre, for which she herself received the Best Actress Goya Award.

Basque cinema will be represented by the romantic Bon appetit, presented as well by lead actor Unax Ugalde (tbc), and by the latest film of the Basque filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia: Balada triste de trompeta, which won him last year the Venice Silver Lion for Best Director.

Because Spanish artists don't work exclusively within frontiers, we are proud to include in our programme films not exclusively Spanish, such us Ways to Live Forever, directed by the Spanish Gustavo Ron in Great Britain, or Les femmes du 6ème étage, a film by the French director Philippe Le Guay with a cast that includes Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas and Natalia Verbeke, who will be with us together with the director.

We are very happy to welcome back Eduardo Noriega, who came to our first edition and is now joining us again to present his latest work, Blackthorn in the closing evening of the Festival.

This year's Special Feature is dedicated to a US-born actress with an international career that includes an extensive list of films in Spain starting in the mid-60s, when she became Carlos Saura's muse. Geraldine Chaplin is considered in Spain to be one of "our" most outstanding actresses and without her, a part of our cinematography could not be understood.

The Festival will also pay a small homage to the late Luis García Berlanga, one of Spain's most iconic independent filmmakers of all times.